Major Matina Jewell
(Retired) CSP
Life-changing perspective from the front line of leadership, resilience and change.

Major Matina Jewell
(Retired) CSP
Life-changing perspective from the front line of leadership, resilience and change.
Bio
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP is an inspirational trailblazer, helping leaders build resilient teams to thrive through change.
Named in the ‘AFR 100 Women of Influence 2018’, Matina is also a Telstra Business Awards Finalist and was named a CPA Australia ‘Top-10 Smart Thinker’.
Among her honorary roles, Matina is a founding ambassador for Project Thankful, a movement partnered with the United Nations to help empower women and children globally.
A bark portrait painting of Matina was entered for the 2019 Archibald Prize, and her incredible life story has been optioned for a global feature film.
Military Trailblazer & Peacekeeper
Major Matina Jewell (Retired) CSP grew up in the hinterland of Byron Bay and joined the Army at age 17. During her 15-year military career, Matina:
- Served on five missions and earned eight war medals
- Became the only Australian to receive two Republic of Lebanon war medals for acts of bravery on the battlefield and wounded in combat
- Was appointed Officer in Command of the Army Department and Diving Officer for HMAS Kanimbla, then Australia’s largest Navy ship, at only 23 years old
- Was the first woman in the Australian Army to complete the physically demanding "Navy Ship's Diver" course
- Worked with the elite SAS and American Navy SEALS
- Tracked down militia leaders in the Solomon Islands
- Fast-roped from helicopters
- Boarded smuggler ships in the Arabian Gulf
- Trained in three languages (Bahasa Indonesian, Arabic and English)
- Gained her Masters in Project Management
- Served as a Peacekeeper with the United Nations in Syria and Lebanon
Advisor & Ambassador
Since being medically retired, Matina has campaigned for change for veterans and others in need through numerous honorary, ambassador and advisory roles, including:
- Prime Ministerial Advisory Council
- National Mental Health Forum
- ANZAC Centenary Commission, alongside former Prime Ministers Bob Hawke and Malcolm Fraser
- National Suicide Prevention Commission
- Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project as Ambassador
- Project Thankful as Ambassador
Change Champion
- 2019 – Archibald Prize Bark Portrait Entrant
- 2018 – AFR 100 Women of Influence
- 2017 – Awarded Certified Speaking Professional (International)
- 2016 – Telstra Women's Business Awards Finalist
- 2015 – A CPA Australia 'Top-10 Smart Thinker'
- Her story featured in a high rating, two-part ABC Australian Story and was syndicated globally with FOXTEL's I Survived
- Her memoir, Caught in the Crossfire (Allen & Unwin) a best-seller
- Her incredible life story has been optioned for a global feature film
Matina is a proud mum to busy young girls with husband Clent Jewell, and lives on the Far North Coast of NSW.

Australian War Memorial
Matina's In-Their-Words contribution, now part of a permanent exhibition at the Australian War Memorial (4.24s)

ABC Australian Story Documentary
The Blue Beret – Parts I & II
(52:30s)

Foxtel Documentary
Foxtel ‘I Survived’ Documentary
(15:33s)
Partnerships

Matina is honoured to be a Brand Ambassador for TOYOTA FINANCIAL SERVICES (TFS) who have supported millions of Australians in financing and protecting their vehicles.
Matina and TFS are aligned in their passion and duty for serving the communities they work and live in.
As a UN Peacekeeper in the Middle East, Matina patrolled ‘The Blue Line’ for many months in her TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO.
And Matina is just as appreciative of the safety and comfort of TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO doing the school drop-off and pick-ups today.

With aligned values of respect, passion, quality, innovation, and collaboration, Matina Jewell is proud to be associated with the HOGO BOSS brand.
With sustainability and success inextricably linked, HUGO BOSS has long been Matina’s first choice as the most accessible, fashionable and innovative wardrobe. “HUGO BOSS offers high quality and comfort every time – whether I’m heading to a keynote speech from a long haul flight, or to a coffee meeting from school pick up”.
Quality, innovation, and responsibility form the foundation of HUGO BOSS sustainability strategy, and focus efforts on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations.

Matina was named in the
‘AFR 100 Women of Influence 2018′.
View Website
Awards

AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards
Finalist 2018
AFR 100 Women of Influence Awards Finalist 2018

Professional Speakers Australia
Certified Speaking Professional 2017
Professional Speakers Australia Certified Speaking Professional 2017

Telstra Business Women’s Awards
Finalist 2016
Telstra Business Women’s Awards Finalist 2016

CPA Australia ‘Top 10 Smart Thinker’
who shaped 2015
CPA Australia 'Top 10 Thinker' 2015
Honorary roles

Project Thankful
Ambassador
Project Thankful Founding Ambassador

Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project Ambassador
Australian Peacekeeping Memorial Project Ambassador

ANZAC Centenary
Commissioner
ANZAC Spirit - ANZAC Centenary Commissioner

AWM Redevelopment
'In Their Words' Contributor
AWM Redevelopment 'In Their Words' Contributor
Recent Activity
Delighted to be at Nineteen at The Star Gold Coast for the launch of the Hugo Boss womens new season collection.
“The dress code for 2021 is smart casual.” Grant Pearce Hugo Boss Style Ambassador
@HUGOBOSS #thisisboss #goldcoastevents #goldcoastfashion #fashiontrends
Meditation has been a powerful tool in my kit bag to help me slow down my busy mind & gain clarity or focus. It has also proven useful in managing pain from my spinal injuries as well as helping my children get to sleep at night in a relaxed state.
I recommend giving it a go.
Delighted to be featured @theceomagazineglobal where I share my thoughts on critical leadership skills required by leaders across industries during challenging times.
Read feature article with link below
https://t.co/W7Z4g0em3e
thanks @HUGOBOSS @kailisjewellery @susanarmstrong_
My favourite quote this week comes from Sheyl Sandberg.
Seems we all need a little more resilience building to get through this challenging period in history. How is your resilience mindset this week & what activities can you do to help build capacity for yourself & your team?
Hang in there Victoria, not long till lockdown lifts tonight!
I figure we could all do with a laugh today. I find children’s laughter infectious, so hopefully, this footage of my daughter Kyah when she was little will kick start a smile for you today.
#resilienceinaction #humour
Humbled to be featured in the latest edition of @TheCEOMagazineG which launched today in both print & digital editions.
To read the feature article use the link below.
https://t.co/8oX3nKU557
A heartfelt thanks @HUGOBOSS & @kailisjewellery for your ongoing support & photoshoot.
Perspective & expectation management are one of the critical pillars in my “7Ps of Resilience” framework.
To learn more about this topic head to my Resilience in Action program at https://t.co/lGypmU7FwB
#matinajewell #onlineprograms #resilienceinaction #keynotespeaker
Quality sleep has evaded me for years.
Ever since I was injured whilst serving as a peacekeeper with the UN during the 2006 Lebanon war, the pain has kept me awake at night.
I recently undertook a sleep study to help rectify the issues.
What techniques do you use for sleep?
My favourite quote this week is a reminder to guard & prioritize the precious resource of our time.
As we roll into the weekend, take a moment to consciously decide where you will spend your time & energy this weekend so that you’re recharged to kick off a new week come Monday.
Fantastic to share my thoughts today on the transference of leadership skills from the battlefield to business with Eric Perez & Ben Deverson.
Keep an eye out if you’d like to listen in to our chat on their podcast ‘Talking Leadership’.
#matinajewell #talkingleadership

I admire people who are really clear on their purpose.
I know that when I am living purposefully, I feel more meaning in everything I do.
And when I take action around my purpose, I feel fulfilled.
I call this ‘dutiful’; the duty we have to ourselves to live life on purpose.
purposeful + meaningful + actionable = fulfilment
It feels beautiful to live dutiful.